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GAA17CA391

2017-07-01 · Ferguson, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 82J

Current FAA registration · N157WB

Make / Model
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB
Year of manufacture
2014 · 3 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1B (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20140319
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0E626

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on the grass runway, the airplane began to veer to the right before the tailwheel was down. He added that he applied left rudder; however, the airplane pitched forward and the propeller struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted off the right side of the grass runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 220° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 18. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on the grass runway, the airplane began to veer to the right before the tailwheel was down. He added that he applied left rudder; however, the airplane pitched forward, and the propeller struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted off the right side of the grass runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 3 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 18. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA391.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.